Nigeria Edge S’Africa Women’s U-19 in Super Over in a Nail-biting Clash

With both Nigeria and South Africa already recording losses in the tournament, it was clear that a victory for either team would re-establish belief and confidence going forward at the ongoing 5th edition of the Nigeria Women’s Invitational T20 International (WT20i)  Tournament at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, Lagos.

South Africa Women’s U-19 won the toss and elected to bat first.

Nigeria had a dream start when Ashley Bernad was dismissed off the last ball in the first over with South Africa recording no runs. Jeze Campher was the next to depart in 3.4 overs, contributing just 1 run. After 4 overs, South Africa had 2 runs on the board for the loss of 2 wickets.

At the end of the power play of 6 overs, South Africa were on 18 runs for the loss of 3 wicket.

Captain Mieke Van Voorst took the game back to Nigeria, unbeaten at 23 runs off 19 balls which helped South Africa to reach 42 runs after 10 overs. 

South Africa grew into the game as Van Voorst played a captain’s innings, scoring 69 runs off 47 balls to get her team to a respectable total of 133 Runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. 

Siphokuhle Masilela had a late charge of 20 runs off 15 balls, and Jae Leigh Filander with 16 runs off 21 balls as the best batting contribution for Team South Africa Women’s U-19.

Nigeria however responded in the second innings with the opening pair of Amusa Kehinde and Christabel Chukuonye starting slowly and perhaps playing with the handbrakes on. Amusa was dismissed in the 4th overs after contributing just 9 runs off 12 balls with Nigeria on 13 runs.

The game continued in like manners till midway into the innings with Nigeria on 47 runs still for the loss of 1 wicket. Christabel on 13 runs off 25 balls and Eguakun Omosigho on 16 runs off 23.

South Africa on the front foot dismissed Eguakun Omosigho for 18 runs off 28 balls to introduce captain Lucky Piety. 

Like a leader on a mission, Piety took matters into her own hands and beyond a captain’s innings, she rescued her team from collapse to force a super over after hitting an outstanding 66 runs off 35 balls including a 24runs over.

Christabel Chukuonye played the night watchman till she was retired out for 26 runs off 43 balls.

Nigeria continued the super over with Piety and Salome. 

The team managed just 10 runs in the super over but were able to restrict South Africa Women’s U-19 to 9 runs to emerge victorious in what would be considered as the closest and most entertaining match of the tournament so far. Lucky Piety was named player of the tournament.

Elsewhere, new tournament record of 226 runs was set as Zimbabwe’s Women U-19 beat Ghana by 180 runs in the other fixture.